New Delhi: India suffered a bit of collapse as Adam Zampa picked a four-wicket haul on spin-friendly track to seal the series for Australia. Virat Kohli scored a fifty, along with other batters contributing, but could not manage to chase 270. The visitors restricted India to 248 to win by 21 runs.
The Indian inning had a similar trajectory as Australia’s while the only difference was the partnership between Sean Abbott and Ashton Agar.
The opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill mustered quick 65 runs before Sean Abbott got Rohit Sharma for 30 off 17. It was followed by Zampa trapping Gill lbw for 37(49).
Virat Kohli and KL Rahul had a 69-run stand between them where Kohli played the aggressor while Rahul took his time to get used to the turn and bounce of the pitch. As soon as Rahul changed gears and scored boundary, he was caught by Abbott off Zampa’s delivery for 32(50).
While Axar Patel was runout with an exceptional fielding attempt by Smith, Kohli and Pandya played on. While they looked comfortable, Ashton Agar, playing his first game on the tour, dismissed Kohli for 54 and Suryakumar Yadav on another golden duck. With this SKY has joined Sachin Tendulkar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and others in the list of three consecutive golden ducks.
There was a brief partnership between Pandya and Jadeja, which was broken by Zampa. Pandya was dismissed for a run-a-ball 40 with a great catch by Smith and Jadeja was caught by Stoinis again on delivery by Zampa. Indian lower order could not contribute much.
In the first inning, Australia started with a bang as Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head laid a 68-run opening stand. But it was 26 off 23 by Sean Abbott, who hit two fours and one six and 17(21) by Ashton Agar which proved to be the real difference.
Mitchell Marsh scored a run-a-ball 47 while Travis Head contributed 33 off 31 with 4 fours and 2 sixes before Hardik Pandya got him out in the 11th over. Pandya got an outside edge off Steve Smith’s bat to get him out for a duck and then bowled Marsh to bring the score to 85/3.
Kuldeep Yadav picked three wickets in the middle to solve the problem for India. His delivery, which got Alex Carey out was an outstanding view of turn and bounce, which stunned everyone.
Pandya and Kuldeep picked three crucial wickets each, which eventually went in vain.
David Warner played at number 4 and this was his second-ever game not opening the batting for Australia. He replaced Cameron Green in the team, who was unwell and scored 23(31).
